RAM Timings headache.

[Sokratz]

OK. My head is broken and I could use some help.

I have 1gb of the mushkin pc3500 dual level 1 on a nf7-s which is 2-3-3-? (http://www.mushkin.com/mushkin/pop-up/latencies.htm) (long story short = *TRCD+CAS latency + 2* )

First, let me make sure I have the terminology correct (if not plz correct me 😉)
2-3-3-? is from left to right, CAS Latency / TRCD(RAS-to-CAS Delay) / TRP(Row-Precharge Delay) / TRAS(Row-Active Delay)

By mushkin's latencies explanation, if my ram was set to 2-3-3 then the TRAS(Row-Active Delay) would need to be 3+2+2=7

So if all of that is true. Here is my funk. On the NF7-S, when I set my ram to By SPD, and push it to 200FSB, it sets my ram at 2-3-3-6. Which I can run stable (30 mins of prime95 no torture test).

Double my funk: I've been able to hit 203 stable 2-3-3-6 as well. But as soon as I go above that, the By SPD option changes my timing to 2-4-4-7 (shouldn't it be 8 then?) Btw, nothing I do can make anything over 203 stable.

Question 1: Is it smart to drop the ram timings to allow for a faster fsb? What's the impact/timing vs gained clock speed.

Question 2: SPD, it's read directly from the ram right?

Simple short Question 3: What the *&% should I set these timings at for best overclocking


Mucho Thanks folks,
Sokratz

 

[bjc112]

Question 1: Is it smart to drop the ram timings to allow for a faster fsb? What's the impact/timing vs gained clock speed.

Overall clock speed is going to bring better performance that minor timings adjustments.

 

[Badjokesben]

Yeah, what he said.

Ok, Sorry.

 

[Corey0808]

for the ABIT NF7-S V2.0 board you will get better performance if you set the last number to 11 instead of 6 or 7. It has been proven before but I don't have the link. Hope this helps.

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: Corey0808
for the ABIT NF7-S V2.0 board you will get better performance if you set the last number to 11 instead of 6 or 7. It has been proven before but I don't have the link. Hope this helps.

yes this is true for some weird reason or another ... 11 is the fastest...

most people use 2-2-2-11 as the fastest ram timings on nforce2 boards

 

[CarpeDiem99]

You should go with 11-3-2-2, as level 1 wouldn't be able to do 11-2-2-2

 

[Sokratz]

OK. My headache is still here but I'll try 2-2-3-11.

Thanks.

 

[coachman]

What voltage is recomended for 2-2-3-11 ?

 

[Sokratz]

i do 2.8 or 2.9. ram syncs never get warm.

on a side note though. 2-3-3-6 is faster than 2-3-3-11. difference is between immediate IE 6 load and about a 1.5-2 second load time.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: coachman
What voltage is recomended for 2-2-3-11 ?

2.8V will be more than enough unless you are pushing way outside of spec...

It's most likely that if you cannot achieve the clock speed on 2.8, 2.9 won't matter..

🙂